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This is great. This sorta reminds me of a similar, more recent experiment. Some researchers gave students, kids, like an "aptitude test". Then the researchers gave their teachers a list of all the students that did well on it, and that they were gifted or whatever. But the list was made up, completely random.

Afterwards teachers reported that the "gifted" children were more attentive, better behaved, and scored higher on tests, which was true. But only because of the placebo effect that had an impact on how the teachers interacted with their students, thus making them perform better.

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This should almost be a mandatory event for young people to teach them equality and resist labels affecting what they are capable of doing.

One of the things I have become more acknowledging of (TBH in part b/c of some posts here) are the REAL social/economic handicaps that affect lots of young people from the moment they are born. Example: The "Black kid born in the gang infested ghetto", the "hispanic kid born to illegals", and even the "TrailTrash white kid" and so on. That said, I am glad to see that my opinion that in many ways programs meant to build people up can in fact hold them back by telling them they aren't as good as the Rich White Kid.

I think the answer, if one is even possible, is to give these folks the help they need to level the playing field, while also making sure the the societal label of "You will never make it out" is thrown away quickly. Everyone has a chance to be what they are meant to be is a good dream, even if it is a pipedream.

I wish I could be more eloquent in how I am saying this...maybe this week when I am on my ADD meds and not busy I can expand better.

/back to studying...

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I have tried for my entire life to communicate what it is like growing up black in America. I have listened to conversations and just as often participated in conversations where blacks try to explain the racism that exists in America still today. Things like white people are called "people" while blacks are "black people". How things as unnoticed as this are very prevalent even in youth conversations and are demonstrative of the huge social divide in this nation. Not having the psychology background I could never articulate what this wonderful teacher was able to do to that class. Great experiment

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Amazing and brilliant. What I would like to find out is, given that those kids have now grown and are most likely grandparents by now, do they still remember and appreciate the lesson they learned in that classroom, or if they were still indoctrinated in the racist views of their generation. Either way, it was something to make you think, and that's always a good thing.